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VOTE FOR PUTT ING PEOP LE FI RST on Oc tober 25t h RALPH ROBINSON Experienced and Sound Management in WARD 1 www.reelectralphrobinson.ca 13 Friday , O ctober 22, 2010 O A KVILLE BEA V ER w w w .o akvillebeaver .co m Imparting wisdom on navigating life about rising above the chal- lenges that are presented to them in life. Today you are seeing examples of two people who have risen to the challenge, and not only risen to the challenge, but have excelled in their field. Mark and Nancy, youre examples to us all, he said. Representing the local level of government was Mayor Rob Burton who con- gratulated the inductees for their achievements and the students and their achieve- ments yet to be. He also gave the students some free advice that he has learned along the way, and one that he believes the two inductees understand very well. Its really simple and I think it will help everybody feel more positive and ambi- tious, he said. Life does not require per- fect. You do not have to be perfect to succeed. You will hear some- thing along those lines from your inductees, I am certain because everybody who has gone on in life to succeed discov- ers this secret. What life does like very much is hard work. So forget perfect and remember hard work and youll go far. Presentations also included speeches from the school principal Mr. Caughlin, local Halton District School Board trustee Don Vrooman and students. In receiving their plaque awards, both inductees spoke to the students. High school was a pivotal time in my life, when I started to figure out what I wanted to do when I complete my educa- tion, Walker said. You might say the people who are inducted into the Hall of Fame at Blakelock were probably the most popular students in the school or they were good at everything. And I can assure you that, at least in my circumstance, that certainly wasnt the case. She said she was a nerdy kid, who was- nt good at sports. She said she was a good student aca- demically, save for one weakness, which was math. But the subjects she was drawn to were arts and music. She got help along the way at Blakelock in her musical aspirations. She was part of the school band and composed a song that her music teacher allowed the band to play. Using Burtons words, she said her song was far from perfect, but because the teacher let the band play it was very help- ful to her, who had no previous education in composing music. He saw the spark there and nurtured it, she said. Her fellow inductee, Bramer said the seeds to woodworking were planted in him at a young age when he would work with his father in the familys garage, which is something he enjoyed doing. That seed planted by my dad took root here at Blakelock High School, he said. Although I had a wonderful and successful experience playing football, soccer and volleyball, some of those teams that I participated in won champi- onships. But I always enjoyed myself the most at the back of the school, down stars in the dark hallway which we would call the tech wing. He told the students they are lucky to live in a world full of wonderful possibili- ties but it must be they who make the dif- ficult decision of what they will do. Bramer, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, said life has presented him with the unexpected. But he told the students what they decided to do with the unex- pected is what matters most. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER HALL OF FAME: Nancy Walker, jazz pianist and composer, and Mark Bramer, professor of wood technology at Conestoga College in Kitchener. Continued from page 12 HERITAGE Lifestyle Home Furnishings SINCE 1977 4205 Fairview Street, Burlington 905-634-5298 www.heritagefurniture.ca Absolutely Incredible Prices, Limited Quantities! Solid Wood Canadian Made King Bed $799 Solid Wood Reclaimed Timber Desk $699Now Incredible Leather Sectional $2599In Stock Now $699 In Stock From Accent Buffets Special offer DONT MISS OUT! YOU THINK Were Closer Than C O - E D , M O N T E S S O R I , J U N I O R , M I D D L E , S E N I O R COLLEGE-WIDE OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, October 27th 9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.